Preparation for storage batteries and process of making the same



go or woody substances with a caustic alkali solution tirely soluble in alcohol. 85

Patented Dec. 2c, 1933 1,940,714Y1 PREPARATION FOR -sTonAGE BATTERIES AND PROCESS OF MAKING THE SAME Eugene A. Giard, LaGrange, Ill.,' assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Vesta Consolidated Incorporated, acorporation of Delaware No Drawing. Application December 11. 1929 I Serial No.413,431

o Claims. (01. 136-26l This invention relates to a preparation for'storwell known soda process for making pulp, since age batteries and to, a process of making such its action is much less drastic and does not result preparation. g in any appreciable dissolving of the lignin con- It is an object of this invention to provide a tent of the separators. After the caustic alkali 5 process of making a preparation that can be used treatment, the solution thus. formed is neutralto in connection with storage batteries, and more ized with acid, as for instance sulphuric acid, to particularly .the negative plates, for increasing .efle ct a precipitation of the substances extracted their life and efficiency. from the wood by the alkalitreatment' The It isa'further important object of this inven-' liquor containing the precipitated suspended sol- 1 tion to provide a process for treating wood and ids may be used directly in making up'the batwoody substances to obtain a preparation for use tery plate paste as so much water before the addi with storage batteries. tion of the strongsulphuric acid;- or, the precipi- Other and further important objects of this intated substances may be separated from the solu- ,vention will become apparent from the following tion, as by filtration, and used in making up the 16 ription and appended claims. paste for the plates- I have found that it is not Ithas heretofore been suggested that lignin necessary to wash the precipitated substances may be incorporated in the paste containing the prior to their incorporation in the oxide mixture lead oxides used in making storage'battery plates used in preparing the plates. V with good results as to the efllciency of the-stor :The percentage of the precipitated substances 20 age battery. Such beneficial results have been that may be satisfactorily incorporated with the attributed to various causes, among them that oxide mixture may vary widely but in general, I wood or lignin particles incorporated into the prefer to use about-l to 4% of the precipitated oxide mixture imparts greater'porosity to the substances. paste, thereby permitting more uniform sulpha- ,It will be understood that the nature of the 25 tion of the oxidesthroughout the mass of the precipitated substances is not entirely known to paste. I have now found that other substances me, except that they appear to comprise largely than lignin which may be derived from wood give the gum and resins of the wood. That they do equally beneficial results. I not contain any appreciable quantity of lignin is In general, my process comprises treating wood apparent from the fact that they are almost enof such strength and at a sufficiently elevated The result of'the use of my active substances temperature for such period of time asto dissolve in a storage battery is to increase materially the certain ingredients of the wood without substanefliciency of the battery. For instance, a storage tially attacking the lignin content. The subbattery in which 3% of the precipitated sub- 35 stances that may be so dissolved from the wood stances had been incorporated in the paste on are apparently resinous or gummy in their nathe negative plate showed a negligible falling ofl ture, since they are almost completely soluble in in the capacity of the negative plates, as deteralcohol. mined through cadmium voltage readings, dur

\ Although many different kinds of wood may be ing discharge after ten cycles? whereas in a simi- 0 treated in accordance with my process, for ecolar battery operated under the same conditions nomical reasons, I prefer to derive my preparabut not containing my'preparation, the negative tion for use with storage batteries from the wood plates showed a marked falling off in capacity. separators usually used in making the storage I am aware that numerous details of the proc batteri ess may be varied through a wide range without 5 It is usual practice to subject such separators departing from the principles of this invention,

to a cleansing treatment prior to their use in the and I, therefore, do not purpose limiting the patstorage battery. I therefore accomplish two obent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated jects by using separators as the source of my by the prior art. active substances in place of using wood of some I claim'as my invention:

50 other character. 1. The process of making a preparation for 0 According to.- my process, the separators are use in storage battery plates, which comprises subjected to treatment with, say, a 3 to 5% solusubjecting wood separators to, treatment with a tion of caustic soda at boiling temperature for caustic alkali solution of such strength and at a approximately six hours under atmospheric pressufllciently elevated temperature. to dissolve al- 55 su e. S c treatment is o gous to the kali soluble constituents of the wood without dis- 11 solving substantial quantities of lignin, acidifying the resulting solution to eflect a precipitattion, recovering the precipitated substances and mixing said substances with the lead which the plates are formed.

'2. The process or making a preparation for use instorage battery plates, which comprises subjecting wood separators to the action of a oxides of weak caustic alkali solution at about its normalboiling point, acidifying the solution thus formed to efiect a precipitation, recovering the precipitated substances and mixing saidsubstances with the lead oxides of which the plates are formed.

in storage battery plates, which comprises boiling a wooden separator with'approximately a 3% 3. The process of making a preparation for use caustic alkali solution, acidifying the resulting solution to effect precipitation of glissolved substances and recovering and mixing said sub-' stances with the lead oxides of which the plates are formed.

4. The process of making a preparation for use in SipTilge battery plates, which comprises subjecting wood separators to treatment with a caustic alkali solution'of such strength and at a sufflciently elevated temperature to dissolve alkalisoluble constituents of the wood without dissolving substantial quantities of lignin, neutralizing ,with acid and mixing the resulting liquor containing precipitated and dissolved substances with the lead oxides; of which the plates are formed.

5. A preparation for storage batte y plates,

comprising lead oxide and solid substances dis- 6. A preparation for storage battery plates. comprising oxide 01' lead containing, in amounts not to exceed 4% alkali soluble substances dissolved trom wood by treatment with-a 3 to 5% solution of alkali and precipitated by subsequent neutralization of the alkali with an acid said substances containing no substantial quantity'oi' lignin.

'1. The process for making a preparation tor use in storage battery plates, which comprises subjecting wood to treatment with a hot 3 to 5% solution of caustic alkali to dissolve alkali soluble constituents of the wood without dissolving substantial quantities of lignin, acidifying the resulting solution to eflect a precipitation, recovering the precipitated substances and mixing said substances with the lead oxides of which the plates are formed. 4

8; The process for makinga preparation for use in storage battery plates which comprises subjecting wood to the action of a 3 to 5% caustic alkali solution at about its normal boiling point, acidifying the solution thus formed to effect a precipitation, recovering the. precipitated substances and mixingsaid substances with the lead oxides of which the plates are formed.

9. The process of making a preparation for'uso in storage battery plates, which comprises subjecting wood to treatment with a hot 3 t0 5% solution of caustic'alkali to dissolve alkali soluble constituents oi! the wood without dissolving substantial quantities of lignin, neutralizing with acid andmixing the resulting liquor containing precipitated and dissolved substances with the lead oxides of which the plates are formed.

EUGENE a. em. 

